1st Zi'da, 717
"With the coming of Zi'da, the weather gets colder. People start looking for ways to keep warm. They bundle up when they have to go out. They rearrange their schedules as much as they can to avoid leaving the warmth of their homes more than absolutely necessary. They break out the wood, and build up the fires in their fireplaces. And when they do need to go out, a hot meal will go a long way in lifting their spirits. For that reason, the menu will include a lot of soups and stews for the next couple of seasons. As my apprentices, you will be learning how to make them." Elyari said with a determined look, and a warm smile.
"So. What do you three know about soups and stews?"
"There are a lot of different kinds?" Aris suggested.
Elyari laughed.
"Yes there are. What else?"
Kirei considered her mentor's question carefully.
"I would think that boiling and simmering would be the techniques that you would need when making soups and stews." she offered after a few bits.
"Don't be silly! Boiling and simmering are the same thing!" Andiron insisted.
Kirei shook her head.
"No they aren't. Boiling is...just that. Cooking something in boiling liquid. Soups and stews are made this way, and vegetables can be boiled, too. Simmering, on the other hand is when you cook something in liquid that is just below the boiling point. It is a more gentle way of cooking than boiling is, but it is also a slower method of cooking. It is suited for delicate foods such as fish which may break apart when boiled. Meats that are simmered remain moist and tender while boiled meats can become dry and tough due to the heat of the boiling liquid. Boiling and steaming are both moist heat methods of cooking."
"That's true. What other types of cooking can be considered moist heat methods?" Elyari asked.
"Poaching." Kirei said confidently.
It was strange to think that her slave training had actually done her some good. But as horrible as her lessons had been, and as cruel as the punishments for failure were, they had taught her to learn quickly, and to learn well. Because of that, it was easy for to remember things that she had learned during those arcs when she needed them now.
"What about steaming?" Aris asked curiously.
"Steam is sort of water after all..."
Kirei turned to her friend in confusion.
"Steaming?" she asked curiously.
"Yeah. That's when you use steam to cook food. The ingredients are placed in a bamboo container of some kind and suspended over a steaming pot as they cook. It's an advanced technique, though. I know it exists, but I don't know how to do it...yet."
Aris glanced at Andiron with an imp like look in her eyes.
"It's kind of like chocolate work, and sugar work. They're both very advanced techniques as well. The difference between Andiron and I is that I know that I don't have enough skill to attempt them yet."
Andiron glared at Aris.
"Can we get back to the matter at hand, children? You're here to learn how to make a good soup or stew, not to worry about advanced techniques that you aren't skilled enough to handle yet.
Kirei had to struggle not to laugh.
"With the coming of Zi'da, the weather gets colder. People start looking for ways to keep warm. They bundle up when they have to go out. They rearrange their schedules as much as they can to avoid leaving the warmth of their homes more than absolutely necessary. They break out the wood, and build up the fires in their fireplaces. And when they do need to go out, a hot meal will go a long way in lifting their spirits. For that reason, the menu will include a lot of soups and stews for the next couple of seasons. As my apprentices, you will be learning how to make them." Elyari said with a determined look, and a warm smile.
"So. What do you three know about soups and stews?"
"There are a lot of different kinds?" Aris suggested.
Elyari laughed.
"Yes there are. What else?"
Kirei considered her mentor's question carefully.
"I would think that boiling and simmering would be the techniques that you would need when making soups and stews." she offered after a few bits.
"Don't be silly! Boiling and simmering are the same thing!" Andiron insisted.
Kirei shook her head.
"No they aren't. Boiling is...just that. Cooking something in boiling liquid. Soups and stews are made this way, and vegetables can be boiled, too. Simmering, on the other hand is when you cook something in liquid that is just below the boiling point. It is a more gentle way of cooking than boiling is, but it is also a slower method of cooking. It is suited for delicate foods such as fish which may break apart when boiled. Meats that are simmered remain moist and tender while boiled meats can become dry and tough due to the heat of the boiling liquid. Boiling and steaming are both moist heat methods of cooking."
"That's true. What other types of cooking can be considered moist heat methods?" Elyari asked.
"Poaching." Kirei said confidently.
It was strange to think that her slave training had actually done her some good. But as horrible as her lessons had been, and as cruel as the punishments for failure were, they had taught her to learn quickly, and to learn well. Because of that, it was easy for to remember things that she had learned during those arcs when she needed them now.
"What about steaming?" Aris asked curiously.
"Steam is sort of water after all..."
Kirei turned to her friend in confusion.
"Steaming?" she asked curiously.
"Yeah. That's when you use steam to cook food. The ingredients are placed in a bamboo container of some kind and suspended over a steaming pot as they cook. It's an advanced technique, though. I know it exists, but I don't know how to do it...yet."
Aris glanced at Andiron with an imp like look in her eyes.
"It's kind of like chocolate work, and sugar work. They're both very advanced techniques as well. The difference between Andiron and I is that I know that I don't have enough skill to attempt them yet."
Andiron glared at Aris.
"Can we get back to the matter at hand, children? You're here to learn how to make a good soup or stew, not to worry about advanced techniques that you aren't skilled enough to handle yet.
Kirei had to struggle not to laugh.